Which of the following is NOT classified as a special category of data under the GDPR?

Which of the following is NOT classified as a special category of data under the GDPR?

• A. Political affiliation
• B. Health information
• C. Ethnic origin
• D. Social Security Number

Answer: (D)

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), special categories of personal data are defined in Article 9. These categories include sensitive information that requires a higher level of protection due to the potential for significant risks to the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals. The special categories include data related to racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data for uniquely identifying a person, health data, and data concerning a person's sex life or sexual orientation. In this context, health information, ethnic origin, and political affiliation are all explicitly mentioned as special categories of data under GDPR. However, a Social Security Number (SSN) does not fall into these special categories. Instead, it is classified as personal data, which is any information that relates to an identified or identifiable natural person. While SSNs are sensitive and require protection due to the risk of identity theft, they are not categorized within the special types of data that the GDPR designates as needing additional safeguards. Thus, the classification of a Social Security Number as non-special category data under GDPR underscores its distinction from data types that evoke heightened privacy concerns, despite its inherent sensitivity.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), special categories of personal data are defined in Article 9. These categories include sensitive information that requires a higher level of protection due to the potential for significant risks to the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals. The special categories include data related to racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data for uniquely identifying a person, health data, and data concerning a person's sex life or sexual orientation.

In this context, health information, ethnic origin, and political affiliation are all explicitly mentioned as special categories of data under GDPR. However, a Social Security Number (SSN) does not fall into these special categories. Instead, it is classified as personal data, which is any information that relates to an identified or identifiable natural person. While SSNs are sensitive and require protection due to the risk of identity theft, they are not categorized within the special types of data that the GDPR designates as needing additional safeguards.

Thus, the classification of a Social Security Number as non-special category data under GDPR underscores its distinction from data types that evoke heightened privacy concerns, despite its inherent sensitivity.